Jig and plastic baits $5

Okuma reel $50

Kistler dropshot rod $140

Gas (2 cars 1000 miles) $385

Kickboat $400

The opportunity to fish the biggest, baddest, float tube and kickboat tournament in the country PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My trip started out off schedule. Left the house over 1 hour behind schedule. At the top of an overpass on the 99 just before the 46, in a construction zone with no shoulder, I look in my mirror, only to have my heart stop. I see my kickboat bouncing off of the pavement! Somehow due to the pressure change between Tehachapi and Bakersfield, my boat lost pressure allowing the tie-downs to come loose on my trailer. Unable to pull over or turn around, I took the first exit, (which just happened to be my exit) and pulled over. A Chevy truck pulls up next to me and says, I just ran over your boat. AAAHHHHHHHHHH

While my wife trades insurance info with the guy, I start to backtrack. Mind you, this happened at the end of a construction zone. I had to backtrack about 3 miles before I could exit the freeway. I drove down some dirt roads and through a couple of fruit tree fields until I got as close to the overpass as I could. I walked uphill, through the stickers, about 80 yards until I got to my boat and carried it all the way back to my truck and trailer. One of the welds under the seat was broke, the right footpeg had been snapped in 2, the rear aluminum cargo deck with attached rod rack and safety light were gone, 1 oar was ruined, and 1 pontoon was flat.

Get to the lake and immediately start CPR on the boat! After about 3 hours, 20 zipties, JB Weld and 8 patched holes in the right bladder, I was ready to fish!

Went to launch long after everyone else had already left (I had to figure out how to take everything with no rear deck) and the strap on 1 of my fins broke. Went to the truck and got a spare. Finally on the water at 6:04. Day 1 went good, no keepers but I caught a lot of fish (one 3 lb cat). I was just happy to be able to fish after everything that had happened!

Day 2 was going better. Had 2 keepers. Hooked another and went for the net. Splash! Kistler rod and Okuma reel in the drink! Spent the last almost 1.5 hours trying to find it. No luck. I went back out on the water after the tourney and was able to hook a nice 15 inch almost 4 lb fish. Nice fatty! Made it all worth it! Got off the water before anything else could happen. Put my boat back on the trailer and went to move my truck…battery was dead!!!! Quick jump and I was good as new!!!

If you read this far, I know this was long, I want to thank everyone for all the support and a great time!!!! Can’t say it enough, thank you to everyone out there and hope to come to another one soon!!!